Automatic windmill-regulator.



No. 630,445. Patented Aug. 8, I899.

H. F. A. BRUNS &. F. E. ELDRIDGE.

AUTOMATIC WINDMILL REGULATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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N anism, and to otherwise improve the meohan UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HENRY F. A. BRUNS AND FRANOIES EUGENE ELDRIDGE, OF WAV-ERLY, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC WlNDMlLL-RE GULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,445,dated August 8,1899.

Application filed February 26 1899. Serial No."706,'797. (No model.)

do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Our invention relates to automatic windmill-regulators, whereby thewind-wheel is thrown into and out of operation when the waterin areceptacle,pumped therein through the medium of the mill, attains orfalls to a predetermined level.

The object of the invention is to so construct the mechanism that itwilloperate more evenly and cause less wear of the operating parts of thewheel than has heretofore been accomplished by analogous devices, togreatly im prove the pawl-and-ratchet operating mechism, as hereinafterfully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention isshown for the purpose of illustration, like reference-letters refer tocorresponding parts in the several views. I

Figure l is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is, a top plan View,and Figs. 3 and t are detail broken sectional views of theactuating-pawls.

Referring to the drawings,'A A represent supporting-brackets for thedevice, having a number of bolt-holes (1, adapted to be secured insuitable position upon the framework of the mill. These brackets haveelongated bottom portions B and the upwardly-extendingcentrally-arranged portions 0. Mounted in suitable bearings therein andconnecting the two bracketsis amain axle or pivot D. Adapted to revolveupon this axle in the space between the brackets is a toothed segment E,secured to and preferably rigid with the plate or wheel E.Correspondingly mounted at the tops of the-central portions Q of thebrackets upon an axle b is a pinion F, arranged to meshwith the segmentE. A fly or balance wheel F is also mounted upon the axle b to one sideof the pinion and adapted to be revolved by the segment through themedium of the pinion. The object of this balancewheel is to cause theparts to operate slowly when the mill is thrown into and out of thewind, so as to prevent all jar andstrain upon the mill and tower.

. On both the front and rear faces of the plate E are ratchet-segments HH, extending for a greater extent than the toothed segment. Also securedon the plate E is the arm 6, connected to the rod 6 and adapted to beactuated with the plate in a manner hereinafter to be described to throwthe wheel in and out of the wind.

The mechanism for operating the segments may now be pointed out asfollows: Loosely mounted uponthe axle or pivot D in the rear of thewheel or plate E is an elongated lever J, having at its outer end a slotj, adapted toreceive and be held by a pin j, projecting from pump-rod K.Upon the inner surface of this lever, adapted to normally engage withthe ratchet-segment H, is a spring-pressed pawl h, projecting from theside of which is a lug L for the purpose hereinafter stated. The pawljust referred to will hereinafter be referred to as the actuating-pawl.A retaining-pawl h is preferably mounted on the top rear face of theforward bracket. This pawl is also spring-pressed and is normally heldin engagement with the ratchet-segment H. Now to provide for thesimultaneous withdrawal of both of these pawls we employ a cam-lever M,connected at its upper end to a rod m, leading to and controlled by afloat in a tank of any usual construction adapted to receive the waterfrom the pump, The camlever is pivoted upon a pin m on the rear of thebracket A, projecting through a slot 7; in the pawl h. lug L,corresponding to the lug L on the pawl 72', and it is against the formerthatthe cam portion of the lever is adapted to work. At approximatelythe inner end of the pawl his a guide or lug k, which is in the shape ofan This pawl h is provided with a are of a circle and has its inturnedends facing the toothed segmentand upon the outer face of which the lugL of the operating-pawl constantly rides in its operation with thepump-rod.

From the foregoing the operation of the entire mechanism may beunderstood. When the mill is thrown into the wind and reciprocating thepump-rod, the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 1that is, the arm6 and the rod e are elevated. The water-tank is supposed to be empty andthe float occu- Consei pying a very low position therein. quentlythrough the rod m the cam-lever M will be held outwardly. The camportion of the lever operating upon the lug L will withdraw I and thepawls thereby permitted to spring inwardly into engagement with theirrespec tive ratchets. The lever J, carrying the actuating-pawl, nowbeing worked up and down by the pump-rod will engage the ratchet-segmentI l and revolve the same in the direc tion indicated by the arrows,carrying with it in a downward direction the arm 6 and rod e, therebythrowing the wheel out of the wind. The retaining-pawl engaging thesegment H keeps the mechanism from turning backward when theactuating-cam is on the downward movement of its reciprocation. Theparts will then occupy the positions shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. Whenthe tank again becomes empty, the pawls will be released, as beforedescribed, and the arm 6 permitted to rise. The balance or fiy wheelcauses the arm 6 to rise and fall evenly, particularly in its upwardmovement, so that the operating or wind wheel will be thrown into thewind gradually, thereby greatly re- Having thus described the invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- 1. In a windmill-regulator, the combination withisuitable brackets,regulating mechanism I mounted therein connected with the windwheel andadapted to throw the latter out of the wind, comprising a pivotedmember,

means for rotating the same, and a balance or fly wheel in engagementwith the pivoted member for preventing a sudden or jarring movementthereof,substantially as described.

2. In awindmill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism mounted in said brackets connected with thewind-wheel and adapted to throw the latter out of the wind, comprising amovable toothed plate, means for operating the same, and a balance orfly wheel geared to the toothed plate, for the purpose described.

3. In a windmill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism mounted in said brackets, connected with thewind-wheel and adapted to throw the latter out of the wind, comprising apivoted plate, a toothed segment on said plate, pawls and ratchets forrotating said plate, and a balance or fly wheel in engagement with thetoothed segment, substantially as described.

4. In a-windmill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism mounted in said brackets, connected to thewind-Wheel and adapted to throw the same out of the wind comprising aplate pivoted in said brackets, a toothed segment on the periphery ofsaid plate, a balance or fly wheel meshing with said toothed segment,ratchetsegments formed on the respective surfaces of the pivoted plateand retaining and actuating pawls for rotating the plate, substantiallyas described.

5. In a windmill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism in said brackets connected to the wind-wheel andadapted to throw the same out of the wind, ratchets pivoted in saidbrackets, mechanism operating said ratchets comprising spring-pressedpawls one retaining and the other actuating, and a cam-lever forwithdrawing the pawls from engagement with the ratchets and abalance-wheel connected to the regulating mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a wind mill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism in said brackets connected to the windmill andadapted to throw the same out of the wind, ratchets pivoted in saidbrackets, and mechanism operating said ratchets comprising aspring-pressed retaining-pawl, a springpressed actuating-pawl, acam-lever engaging one of the pawls, anda sliding engagement between thetwo pawls whereby when one is operated the other will be correspondinglyoperated, substantially as described.

7. In a windmill-regulator, the combination with suitable brackets,regulating mechanism in said brackets connected to the wind-wheel andadapted to throw the same out of the wind, ratchets pivotally secured insaid brackets, and mechanism operating said ratchets, comprising anactuating spring-pressed pawl, a lug 0n the side of said pawl, a spring-111 testimony whereof We affix our signapressed retaining-pawl having anarc-shaped tures in presence of two Witnesses. guide thereon upon whichthe lug 0n the ac- HENRY F. A. BRUNS. tuating-pawl is adapted to ride,and a cam- FRANGIES EUGENE ELDRIDGE.

5 lever adapted to engage a lug 0n the side of Witnesses:

the retaining-pawl to simultaneously manipu- J. Y. HAZLETT,

late the pawls, substantially as described. C. F. KRAUSE.

